Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1887-12-22

notes Of a soldier in the field, having
access only to stray newspapers and
camp fire gossip, should have made
so full record, and one so nerally
accurate.
Number Two was called next, his
subject being The Army-its defeat,
and losses" This division was natu-
rally assigned to the person who has
} been referred to as Bruin, but whose
real name was Alexander Brown, and
he did his task SO we'll that once or
twice the society nearly lost its tenn
per. 1t must be remember that the
Army of the Potomac had Just suffer.
ed the most crushingrepulse that fell to
its lot during the whole war, and the
spirits of the men had not yet rallied.
But Brown went further and gave a
good rebel version TO all the cam.
paigns of the year.
When he had finished, a rather
dangerous temper manifested itself,
which was, however, promptly checked
by the chairman, who reminded the
meeting that Brown had been selec-
ted ito do just what he had done, and
it's rather rough to lynch him for hay
ing done it better than you, any of
you, expected. The chair begs you
to remember that his left arm is in
sling, and to remind you where he got
it hurt"
Number Three -
All turned with relief to Tom Smith,
otherwise Maps" who began cheer
fully with the action at Mill Springs,
by, on Jan. 70, and continued emu
merating as victories all that could
be reasonably claimed as other than
absolute defeats, until good -humor
was restored. In summing up he
read as follows Now lest YOU should
think have made the best of things
look at the unquestionable facts. A
year ago We had hardly secured a
foothold within the seeded States.
Here we are holding our second meet
ing away down on the Rappahannock,
and We have all us been nearly within
in sight of the rebel capital. If we,
here on the Potomac, have not always
been able to hold all that we have
gained, it is far otherwise elaewhere.
We hold nearly half of Virginia,
quarter Of North Carolina, nearly the
whole of Missouri and Kentucky,
and large part of Tennessee, Mis-
sissipri and Louisiana. We have
driven the rebels altogether from Ar
iona and New Mexico, and have al
most everywhere held all that We
have gained. Here are two maps
showing what we undoubtedly hold al
this time time, and what We held
year ago. Ii that is the result OF an
unbroken series OF defeats, I say let
US keep on being defeated"
There was a distinct round Of ap-
plause, and one or two voices asked
"How's that, Bruin ?" but the chair
man cut discussion short, for that was
prohibited.
Number Four" was called, and
Henry Passer responded with The
Navy-its failures" The list of these
was short, and Number Five followed
with long record Of unquestionable
successes, including more than hun.
dred and fifty captures OF blockaders
and privateers, and the several nota-
ble successes Of the fleets when en-
gagged with shore batteries.
Number Six read brief summary
of the diplomatic situation, and Num-
Der Seven concluded with a similar
sketch, not altogether complimentary,
OF the political aspects in the North
ern States.
, Upon Number Eight, the chairman,
. devolved the duty of summing up,
which he did in way that left US in
a far more cheerful state OF mind than
that in which We had been when We
came together; and when the adjourn.
ment for one year was announced We
t decided unanimously that there Were
: far better reasons for taking heart and
: calling it Merry Christman than We
: had supposed.
The fact is that throughout the wal
: the most OF Us were disposed to magnify
/ the disasters and ignore the genera
march Of events, aud this first regu
lar meeting of our society gave US 1
a hint that was improved, and was no
j without its Influence during the yeal
: that followed.
). 1865.
: Our regiment, with sadly depleted
ranks, was bivouacked at Culpepper
! Va, when the third anniversary cam
:, round. More than half Of us were OF
. fcers by this time. and there was n